Mediating role of health literacy in self-care among female college students with menstrual symptoms: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the mediating role of health literacy in self-care among female college students with menstrual symptoms. The participants were female students at Nagoya University who were aged ≥18 years, and 144 were included in the analysis. We used a questionnaire to investigate menstrual symptoms, self-care for menstruation, and their effect on daily life and health literacy. We defined high health literacy as scores equal to or above the median, and low health literacy as scores below the median, using the total score of the health literacy scale for female of reproductive age. In the high health literacy group, the intensity of menstrual pain and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire score were significantly higher than those in the low health literacy group. The high health literacy group had significantly more regular menstrual cycles than the low health literacy group. The high health literacy group had a significantly higher rate of taking a contraceptive pill than the low health literacy group. The percentages of female students affected by menstrual symptoms during their academic studies and in non-physical leisure activities were significantly higher in the high health literacy group than in the low health literacy group. The high health literacy group also had significantly higher total self-care scores than the low health literacy group. Moreover, health literacy mediated the relationship between menstrual symptoms and self-care. These results suggest that health literacy is an important factor linking menstrual symptoms to self-care.